InterMat Preseason Poll Pegs Cyclones At No. 8

AMES, Iowa – More preseason honors continued to roll in today for the Iowa State wrestling team, as InterMat released its 2013-14 preseason team and individual rankings.

The Cyclones are slotted at No. 8 in the team poll, tied with Wisconsin at 35 points.

Iowa State’s 2013-14 schedule looks to be one of the toughest in the country, as four of the five top schools in the team rankings are on the Cyclones’ dual slate.

In-state rival Iowa is slotted at No. 2 in the team poll and Big 12 foes Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are tied at the No. 4 slot. Preseason No. 3 Minnesota heads to Hilton Coliseum on Feb. 23 to round out the Cyclones’ dual schedule.

Five Cyclones are ranked in the individual rankings with two finding homes in the top-four of their respective weights. 2013 All-Americans Kyven Gadson and Michael Moreno lead the way, as Gadson is ranked No. 3 at 197 pounds and Moreno is No. 4 at 197 pounds.

Two more ISU grapplers are ranked in the top-10. Three-time NCAA-qualifier Boaz Board is ranked No. 7 at 184 pounds. Fellow 2013 NCAA-qualifier Tanner Weatherman joins him in the top-10, as he’s slotted at No. 9 at 174 pounds. Weatherman knocked off two seeded wrestlers at last year’s NCAA tournament as a freshman, falling just short of All-America honors in the round of 12.

Junior Luke Goettl, a native of Clarkdale, Ariz., is the final Cyclone to crack the top-20 of InterMat’s preseason individual rankings. Goettl, a two-time NCAA-qualifier at 141 pounds, is ranked No. 19 at 149 pounds.

Iowa State opens the season on Nov. 7, as it takes on Drexel and Grand View in a double dual at Hilton Coliseum.

For InterMat’s complete team rankings, click here. For InterMat’s full list of individual rankings, click here.